There are some high expectations surrounding what kind of experiences Fallout 5 will eventually bring to fans of the longstanding Bethesda franchise, and, while it may be some time before this project sees the light of day, a lot of anticipation already exists around it. While it is true that Bethesda's attention will likely shift over to The Elder Scrolls 6 once the post-launch content plans for Starfield have been delivered, recent successful projects like Prime Video's Fallout TV show have given a renewed flare to the franchise's community.
It seems more important than ever that Fallout 5 goes out of its way to create a distinct atmosphere and overall identity compared to the games that came before it, with the unique world of Fallout: New Vegas being a large contributing factor to that particular game's success. The presence of Sunset Sarsaparilla and its associated gameplay avenues were a great way to differentiate New Vegas from other Fallout projects, and Fallout 5 should consider featuring its own regional drink alongside the usual presence of Nuka-Cola.
Fallout 5 Would Be the Ideal Game to Follow in Fallout 2's Footsteps
Not much is known about Fallout 5 at this point, but there's a case to be made that it should learn from the older entries in the series.
Sunset Sarsaparilla Could Inspire Some of Fallout 5's Most Distinct Content
The nuclear-ravaged landscapes of the Fallout franchise are its most defining feature, with remnants of the franchise's technologically advanced pre-war civilization being eclipsed by the brutal and unforgiving aftermath of nuclear war. One of the most lingering features of Fallout's pre-war life is the presence of Nuka-Cola, a range of bottled soft drinks that dominated the United States long before the series' Great War.
Not only can players find a wide range of Nuka-Cola drinks within the vast majority of major Fallout settings, but Nuka-Cola bottlecaps also serve as the iconic currency of the franchise's post-war world, underscoring just how influential the range of drinks are on the series as a whole. With Nuka-Cola and its variants being used in-game to restore health, temporarily boost stats, and more, the storytelling and gameplay potential of this in-universe product speaks for itself, with 2010's New Vegas boldly putting its own spin on this.
There are 14 currently-known flavors and variants of Nuka-Cola throughout the Fallout franchise, being a testament to the in-game potential of this kind of product.
The arid deserts of New Vegas and its debauchery-filled cities were enough to separate the game from Fallout 3's East Coast focus, and the additional presence of Sunset Sarsaparilla as a major drink competitor to Nuka-Cola in the region added another memorable level of worldbuilding to the project. As the older company between itself and Nuka-Cola, Sarsaparilla maintained a strong presence in the American southwest, with Obsidian Entertainment smartly linking the drink to a range of unique gameplay opportunities.
Sunset Sarsaparilla In-Game Benefits Are Worth Emulating in Fallout 5
For example, New Vegas featured the Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters as a detailed location that players could infiltrate and explore, with an iconic quest also being present for the player to collect 50 rare blue star Sarsaparilla caps to unlock some lucrative rewards within the HQ. While the Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters lacks the size and pomp of other franchise locations like Fallout 4's Nuka-World expansion, it set a great precedent that Fallout 5 could continue with a standout drink of its own.
The bottlecap market of Fallout places its drinks on an unusual pedestal for the franchise, and Fallout 5's major setting should aim for the same kind of unique iconography and recognizability as New Vegas. While it is currently unconfirmed where Fallout 5 will take place, there is always room for pre or post-war products to add a level of worldbuilding with clear in-game use, and a standout fresh product akin to Sunset Sarsaparilla could be a great way to flesh out the next steps of the franchise's infamous wastelands.
- Video Game(s)
- Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Fallout Shelter, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
- Creation Year
- 1997
- Developer(s)
- Interplay, Black Isle Studios, Bethesda, Obsidian Entertainment, Micro Forté
- Publisher(s)
- Interplay, Bethesda Softworks